> Does this actually work?
>
> I've tried to implement this twice. But a python 1.5 interpreter kept
> dying during pre-compile phase, not execution.

I tested it on my python-1.5.2 system (which is likely staying at python
1.5.2, so send me all the "early python" stuff you want to test). It
does work, although the 'please upgrade' message gets buried in
tests.log while the syntax error traceback goes to standard error...
so you get tracebacks on the screen but a success string, and only if you
decide to grovel through tests.log without being told to will you find the
'please upgrade'.